Door-positioning mechanism



March 27, 1934.

Filed Sept. 21, 1931 a 2., x5 63 7 v /3 ATTOR Patented Mar. 27, 1934 UNETED STATE QFFECE 16 Claims.

This invention relates to a door positioning mechanism in which locking members operate in conjunction with doors in their opening and closing movements; and the objects of my improvements are, first, to provide a door positioning mechanism having a lesser number of parts than employed. by such mechanism heretofore; second, to provide a door positioning mechanism having a single movably mounted positioning member relative to the door; third, to provide a door positioning member formed with portions positioned at angles with each other; fourth, to provide a door positioning member slidably mounted on converging surfaces; fifth, to provide a door positioning member extending through a door bracket; sixth, to provide a posi tioning member capable of pivotally engaging a bracket to permit pivotalmovement in different planes; seventh, to provide a door positioning member with means for gradually lowering itself to a locked door positioning position; and eighth, to provide a positioning member having edges serving as pivotal points, said edges being located at varying distances from the center of gravity .25 of the positioning member.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan elevation of the mechanism positioning a door in an open position; Fig. 2,

a side elevation of the mechanism positioning a door in an open position; Fig. 3, a plan elevation of the mechanism attached to adoor in a closed position; Fig. 4, a plan elevation of the outer end of the positioning member; Fig. 5, an

end elevation of the outer end of the positioning member; Fig. 6, an end elevation of the inner end of the positioning member; Fig. 7, a side elevation of the inner end of the positioning member; Fig. 8, an end elevation of the inner end of the positioning member engaging the door frame bracket; Fig. 9, a side elevation of the inner end of the positioning member engaging the door frame bracket; Fig. 10, an end elevation of the inner end of the positioning member engaging the door frame bracket, the positioning'member being in an unlocked position relative to the door frame bracket; Fig. 11, a side elevation of the outer end of the positioning member engaging the door bracket; Fig. 12, an end elevation of the outer end. of the positioning member engaging, in an unlocked position, the door bracket which is disclosed in section, the sectional view being taken on the line 1212, Fig. 11; Fig. 13, a-side elevation of the outer end of the positioning member; and Fig. 14, a plan elevation of the door bracket.

Similar" numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The door 1 is disclosed as being pivotally mounted on the hinge 2 which has its hinge portions 3 and 4 attached respectively to the door 1 and the wall 5 of a garage, my positioning mechanism being especially adapted for positioning the swinging doors of such buildings.

The bracket 6 may be constructed of sheet material, and is provided with the flange 11, the flange 11 being attached to the door frame member 7 by the screws 8, the door frame member 7 being located above the door 1. The flange 12 of the locking bracket 6 is provided with an opening 9 having its lower edge 10 located in a horizontal plane.

The positioning member 13 is constructed with a T section having the web 14 and the web 15 extending approximately at right angles to the web 14 at its longitudinal center. It is to be understood that whereas the positioning member 13 is constructed as above described, it may be constructed with its web 15 located at or so adjacent one of the edges of the web 14, as would be the case if the positioning member 13 was constructed of an angle iron member of the usual type.

The web 15 of the positioning member 13 is 35 provided with the inclined surface 16 together with the notch 17 adjacent the inclined surface 16, the outer shoulder 18 of the notch 17 having a greater length than the shoulder 19 adjacent the inclined surface 16, the outer shoulder 18 ofthe notch 1''! being the inner face of the lug 20, the outer shoulder 18 of the notch 17 engaging the outer face of the flange 12, of the bracket 6, adjacent the edge 10 of the opening 9.

It is to be noted that the positioning member 13 has its inner end of the web 14 formed with a rounded portion 21, the rounded portion 21 being provided with a radial upper surface op:- positely disposed about the web 15, the lower corners 22 of the web 11 being closer to the web 15 than the similar lower corners of the web 14 at its straight portion adjacent the rounded portion 21.

The outer end portion of the positioning member 13 is provided with the lever arm 23 which is constructed by suitably cutting the web 15 at a point along its vertical length and along its base where it is joined to the web 14, one end of the severed portion remaining solid with the main portion of the web 15. After a portion of the web 15 has been thus severed along its two sides, the portion may be bent outwardly to form the lever arm 23, the lever arm 23 extending approximately at right angles to the web 15 and approximately parallel with the web 1d. The lever arm 23 is provided with the opening 24 to which is attached the chain, cable, or rope 25 depending therefrom.

The positioning member 13 is further provided, at its outer end, with the extension portion 26 which is also formed by cutting away a portion of the web 15 under the web 14 and immediately above the extension portion 26, the extension portion 26 being joined to the web 14 by leaving a portion 2'7 of the web 15 connected with the web 14 and the extension portion 26, the portion 27 being located between the notch 28, formed by the displacement of that portion of the web 15 necessary for forming the lever arm 23, and the extension portion 26.

Thebracket 29 is provided with the flanges 30 and 31, the flange 30 being provided with the circular opening 32. The bracket 29 has its flange 31 suitably attached to the door 1 by the screws 33.

t is to be noted that the flange 30 of the bracket 29 is slidably engaged, on its upper surface, by a portion of the under surface of the web 14 adjacent the notch 28, the portion 2'7 of the web 15, pivoting in the circular opening 32 the portion 27 and the extension portion 26 extending through the circular opening 32, the extension portion 26 preventing the positioning member 13 from jumping out of engagement with the flange 36 during the operation of the door positioning mechanism.

In operation, when the door 1 is swung upon its hinges 2 from its closed position; as disclosed in Fig. 3, to the open position as disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2, the positioning member 13 slides through the opening 9 of the bracket 6, the lower edge of the web 15 slidably engaging the lower edge 10 of the opening 9, until the door 1 is nearly in its pre-determined open position, when the inclined surface 16 will engage the lower edge 10, thus gradually and gently lowering the outer end of the positioning member 13 to cause the notch 17 to engage the lower edge 10, the engagement of the notch 17 and the lower edge 10 looking the positioning member, by its weight, in a position which maintains the door 1 in a predetermined fixed open position, the positioning member 13 having its edges 22 of the rounded portion 21, at its inner end, resting on the lower edge 10 of the bracket 6.

When it is desired to operate the door 1, from its open position, as disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2, to the closed position, as disclosed in 3, the operator pulls the chain 25 downwardly thus causing the lever arm 23 to move downwardly, this in turn causing the positioning member 13 to pivot on the flange 30 of the brack t 29, along the outer edge of the web 14, above the notch 23, adjacent the lever arm 23, the positioning member 13 being further pivoted along one of the edges 22, of the rounded portion 21, on the lower edge 10 of the bracket 9. The edges 22 being located closer to the center of gravity of the positioning member 13 than the outer edges of the tin-rounded portion of the web 14 will render it easy for the operator to pivotally move the positioning member 13 than if the web 14 was unrounded at its inner end. This is due to the fact that the weight of the pivotally mounted door tends to cause the shoulder 18 of the notch 17 to frictionally engage the outer surface and the lower edge 10 of the bracket 9 with considerable pressure. The rounded portion 21 of the outer end of the positioning member 13 thus provides a shorter lever arm, that is, a shorter distance between the center of gravity of the positioning member 13 and the pivotal point, for raising the weight of the positioning member 13 by the lever arm 23 and the chain 25, than would otherwise be the case if the web 15 was not formed with the edges 22, closer to the center of gravity of the positioning member 13 than the corresponding edges of the greater portion of the web 1.5.

It is to be noted that due to the inclined surface 16 of the web 15 being located adjacent the shoulder 19 of the notch 1'7, the positioning member 13 will only have to be pivotally moved a short distance until the junction edge of the shoulder 19 and the inclined surface 16 is clear of the lower edge 10 of the bracket 9 when the door 1 may be closed, the positioning member 13 sliding through the opening 9 of the bracket 6 to the closed position of the door 1, as disclosed in Fig. 3, the positioning member 13 righting itself by the force of gravity to the position, as disclosed in Fig. 8, as its inclined surface 16 and the lower edge surface of the web 15 slide over the edge 10 of the bracket 6, and as the operator releases the downward pull on the chain 25.

It is to be noted that the circular opening 32 in the flange 30 of the bracket 29 will be of sufficient size to allow the positioning member 13 to be pivotally moved through its required pivotal movement, the extension portion 26 being located at a sufficient distance below the flange 30 to allow the extension portion 26 to move through the required distance without interfering with the under surface of the flange 30.

It is also to be noted that the weight of the positioning member 13 will maintain the portion 27 and the extension portion 26 in and through the circular opening 32, thus enabling the portion 27 to absorb the thrust load of holding the door 1 in its locked open position, especially when pressure is applied to the door 1 as during winds, storms, etc., the edges of the portion 27 engaging the inside surfaces of the circular opening 32.

It is also to be noted that the extension portion 26 will be inserted through the circular opening 32 by tilting the positioning member 13 to the required angular position relative to the flange 30.

It is also to be noted that the positioning member 13 is extended through the opening 32 of the flange 30 and permits the positioning member to pivotally move in a plane parallel with the upper surface of the flange 30 and also to pivotally move in a plane at right angles to the upper surface of the flange 30 of the bracket 29.

It is also to be noted that my door positioning mechanism comprises only threemain operative parts connecting the door 1 with the door frame member 7. It is further to be noted that when the door 1 is opened, the inclined surface 16 will shift the center of gravity of the member 13, causing the web 14 to move into a plane parallel with the edge 10 of the bracket 6.

I claim:

1. In a door positioning mechanism, a member having a flange provided with a curved portion at its end, said member being further provided with a flange extending at an angle with said first mentioned flange, said second mentioned flange being provided with a notch portion together with an inclined surface adjacent its notch portion.

2. In a door positioning mechanism, a member having a flange portion together with a second flange portion extending at an angle'with said first mentioned flange portion, said second flange portion being provided with a notch portion, said member being further provided with a rigidly mounted lever extending from said first mentioned flange portion.

3. In a door positioning mechanism, the combination of a bracket attached to the door, said bracket being provided with a flange having an opening therethrough, a bracket suitably mounted adjacent the door when said door is in a closed position, a positioning member extending through said last mentioned bracket, said positioning member being provided with a curved flange having corners engaging said last mentioned bracket, said positioning member being provided with a notch portion for engaging said last mentioned bracket, said positioning member being further provided with a portion engaging the upper surface of the flange of said first mentioned bracket, said last mentioned portion of said door positioning member being provided with a depending flange having, a second flange extending angularly therefrom at one of its sides only, said depending flange together with said second angularly extending flange being adapted to pass through the opening through the flange of said first mentioned bracket.

4. In a door positioning mechanism, a door positioning member suitably mounted to pivot about its longitudinal axis, said door positioning member having a flange portion extending longitudinally thereof, said flange portion having an edge providing a fulcrum for the pivotal movement of said door positioning member, said edge being located nearer the longitudinal axis of said door positioning member at one of its ends than at the other of its ends.

5. In a door positioning mechanism, the combination of a bracket suitably connected to the door, said bracket being provided with a flange having an opening therethrough, and a door positioning member provided with a flange extending substantially in a vertical direction in its normal position, said flange being provided with a hook adapted to pass through the opening of the flange of said bracket, said door positioning member being further provided with a fixed lever portion adjacent its hook portion.

6. In a door positioning mechanism, the combination of a bracket suitably attached to the frame support of the door, said bracket being provided with an opening therethrough, a positioning member extending through the opening of said bracket, said positioning member having a notch portion engaging the lower edge of the opening of said bracket, the notch portion of said positioning member having one of its sides longer than the other of its sides, said positioning member being provided with a flat web portion terminating in a curved flange portion adjacent its notch portion, said positioning member being further provided with an inclined surface adja cent its notch portion, said positioning member being further provided with a flange portion displaced to form a lever arm extending approximately at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said positioning member, said positioning member being further provided with a web portion provided with an extension, a second bracket having a flange with an opening therethrough,

the 'web portion of said positioning member extending through the opening of said second mentioned bracket, the extension of said web portion being located below the flange of said second mentioned bracket, the upper surface of the flange of said second mentioned bracket member engaging said positioning member, and a member suitably attached to thelever arm of said positioning member for moving said positioning member about its longitudinal center.

7. In a door positioning mechanism, the combination of a bracket suitably attached to the door, said bracket being provided with an opening therethrough, a bracket suitably attached to the frame of the door, and a door positioning member provided with a flange having its lowermost portions held in engagement with each of said brackets solely by gravity, said door positioning member being provided with an L shaped portion adapted to pass through the opening of said bracket attached to the door.

8. In a door positioning mechanism, the combination of a bracket suitably attached to the door, and a door positioning member suitably mounted on 'said bracket to permit a pivotal movement "around the longitudinal axis of said door positioning member, said door positioning member being provided with a notch adjacent said bracket, said notch being formed by displacing a portion of said door positioning member to form a lever arm, extending at an angle with the longitudinal axis of said door positioning member, for operating said door positioning member in its pivotal movement about its longitudinal axis.

9. Ina positioning mechanism, the combination of a positioning member provided with a pair of notches separated by an L shaped portion, and a bracket suitably mounted, said bracket being provided with an opening therethrough, said opening being of sufficient size to permit the insertion therethrough of the L shaped portion of said door positioning member.

10. In a positioning mechanism, the combination of a member provided with an opening and a positioning member suitably mounted to oscillate substantially about the center of said opening, said positioning member being provided with a flange having an extension portion to maintain said positioning member in engagement with said first mentioned member, said flange together with its extension portion being entered through the opening of said first mentioned member.

11. In a door positioning mechanism, the combination of a member provided with an opening therethrough, and a positioning member adapted to oscillate relative to said first mentioned member, said positioning member being provided with a projecting portion extending through the opening of said first mentioned member, the projecting portion of said positioning member being adapted for entrance through the opening of said first mentioned member when said positioning member is inclined from its oscillating position relative to said first mentioned member, said projecting portion further locking said positioning member and said first mentioned member together when said positioning member is in its oscillating position relative to said first mentioned member.

12. In a door positioning mechanism, the combination of a bracket member and a door positioning member provided with a semi-circular shaped portion having a pair of edges for slidably engaging said bracket member, said positioning member being further provided with a notch portion for engaging said bracket member.

13. In a door positioning mechanism, the combination of a bracket suitably mounted, said bracket having a flange with an opening therethrough, a second bracket suitably connected with the door, and a door positioning member extending through the opening of said first mentioned bracket, said door positioning member being operatively connected with said second bracket to permit an oscillating movement about the longitudinal axis of said door positioning member relative to said second bracket, said door positioning member being provided with a flange portion having a notch formed therein for locking said door positioning member in engagement with said first mentioned bracket, said door positioning member being further provided with an inclined surface connecting with one of the sides of said notch at a point located between the ends of its opposite sides, said inclined surface being adapted to decrease the oscillating movement of said door positioning member when said door positioning member is being unlocked from engagement with said first mentioned bracket, said door positioning member being further provided with a semi-circular shaped portion having an edge slidably engaging said first mentioned bracket after the notch of said door positioning member has been operatively moved out of alignment with the portion of said first mentioned bracket for engaging the notch of said door positioning member.

14. In a door positioning mechanism, the com bination of a bracket having an opening therethrough, and a door positioning member suitably mounted at one of its ends and provided at its other end with a web for engaging the surface of said bracket adjacent its opening solely by gravity, said door positioning member being further provided with a second web extending substantially at a right angle to said first mentioned web, said door positioning member being further provided with an extension portion extending from one of the sides of said second web, said second web together with said extension portion both being of suflicient size to permit their insertion through the opening of said bracket.

15. In a door positioning mechanism, the combination of a pair of brackets suitably mounted, and a door positioning member engaging both of said brackets, said door positioning member being provided with a substantially vertical web having a portion displaced to form a lever arm, extending substantially at right angles to said vertical web, for pivotally moving said door positioning member about its longitudinal axis, said lever arm being located between said brackets, said portion of said vertical web, forming said lever arm, extending substantially horizontally after said lever arm has been formed.

16. In a positioning mechanism, the combination of a bracket suitably mounted, said bracket being provided with an opening therethrough, a second bracket suitably mounted, and a positioning member operatively connecting said brackets, said positioning member being provided with a flange formed with a portion extending through the opening of said first mentioned bracket, said portion of the flange of said positioning memher being further provided with an extension portion to maintain said positioning member in engagement with said first mentioned bracket, said positioning member being further provided with a notch having a pair of shoulders of unequal length for engaging said second mentioned bracket to lock said positioning member from longitudinal movement in two directions, said positioning member being further provided with an inclined surface connecting with one of said pair of shoulders, having the shorter length, for cans ing said second mentioned bracket to gradualiy engage said notch of said positioning member.

KENNETH D. STEWART. 

